Baseball fans react to possibility of a Legends Home Run Derby at 2024 MLB All-Star Game: "I’d pay to watch Griffey Jr. swing at any age" 

MLB fans are excited at the prospect of a Legends Home Run Derby as part of the 2024 All-Star Game festivities.

Jayson Stark of The Athletic reported Monday that the idea is being discussed among MLB executives and that several recently-retired players are already volunteering to take part.

According to Stark, Ken Griffey Jr., Albert Pujols, Jim Thome and David Ortiz are four players who have expressed interest in competing in the event should it take place during next season's All-Star activities at Globe Life Field, home of the Texas Rangers.

Thome told Stark that he would love to swing for the fences with a group of MLB's historic home run hitters:

"I just think about Griffey’s swing. How pure. How special. I start with that. You know, I don’t know how many home runs any of us would hit. But, I mean, to watch another Ken Griffey homer? How cool would that be for someone in Seattle or in Cincinnati? Or with Albert Pujols in St. Louis. That’s what would make it kind of cool."

Griffey got the ball rolling on the idea a week ago while on MLB Network before the start of this year's Home Run Derby, which was won by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays.

When asked by Pujols whether he would be competing as a joke, Griffey responded that he would if Pujols would.

Griffey, now 53, already displayed his home run power during the World Baseball Classic. As hitting coach of Team USA, he was dared by players to show if he could still knock it out of the park. He took them up on the challenge and, after a few swings, blasted one over the outfield wall at Miami's LoanDepot Park.

Not all MLB fans are enamored with the idea of a Legends Home Run Derby. It has been several years since many of the players mentioned as taking part have played the game.

Other baseball fans would rather see an "Old Timer's Game" as the league used to do years ago.

MLB fans love their home runs

Former Seattle Mariner Ken Griffey Jr. is among those interested in a Legends Home Run Derby.

All the planning is in its infancy, but there is a groundswell of support in baseball circles for a Legends Home Run Derby next summer.

There has not been talk about when the competition would take place during the All-Star festivities or how the event itself would be organized.